"We Americans have no commission from God to police the world."
by:
Benjamin Harrison
(1833-1901) 23rd US President
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America is a great country, but it isn't the greatest country in the world except to you [Americans]. The greatest country in the world is the one each member of this planet lives in.
 -- Alex, From a great place.     
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    If there were an American commission from God, I'm sure it would appear much closer to Jefferson's sentiment; ("Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.") than any issue of force..
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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     -- Logan, Memphis, TN      
    I agree with Benjamin Harrison's quote.
     -- Me Again     
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    We have a commision to live up to our ideals. All men are created equal and have a right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It does not say all United States Men but all men. As Martin Luther said, and I paraphrse "When there is injustice anywhere it affects me, etcetera". We have a right to try to influence the world and we have for a long time, as do other nations. Thus "we" work for womens rights in Afghanistan, try to stop genocide etcetera. Another quote is "No man is an island unto himself." as nice as that would be sometimes. Alex you may be correct but maybe we could be come the greatest country by doing the right things, what do think it?
     -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas     
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    Also no commission to regulate the private lives of all it's citizens. Our country is loaded with people who think they know better than you about nearly everything. What you should eat. what you should drive, what light bulbs to use,etc. And be sure and eat those veggies and get at least 30 minutes of aerobic excercise every day, and get those flu shots or how else are you planning to live forever. Your liberal government thinks that you are stupid, but never fear, they will take care of you, and also your money. The Nanny State is here.
     -- jim k, austin, tx     
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    Indeed we don't. And, have no right too...
     -- RobertSRQ     
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    I agree. We need to fix up our country starting with our waterways, water treatment systems and our roads and public transportation. Just doing our own housekeeping would bring up employment and cut down on crime. I think it is fine for private charities to help other countries...but I believe in quote "it is better to do good works at home then to burn candles far way."
     -- Eileen Regan, Brooklyn, New York     
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    Once again it is about the limitation of power. By allowing an interpretation of the Constitution to include pre-emptive defense via invasion of sovereign nations (or sovereign states or sovereign citizens), we have essentially permitted government's claims to ANY power for our own safety. History has shown that to be the tool of tyrants for enslaving the ignorant. If we are to contribute to the world, let it be through the example of defending Liberty and a declaration of inalienable rights for ALL people, not just Americans. Let us make the world safe for Freedom and Independence -- the opposite of Socialism and Dependence.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    "Nobody" has a commision from God to Police the world....Nobody!
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    I agree with President Harrison, but I think we need to go wider with his idea. Vote out of office all god-promoting statists and 'godless' statists, before we are destitute by accepting the burdens brought on by foreign country interventions, economic interventions, and personal choices interventions by cynical, sanctimonious, and / or clueless politicians. Governments don't have a commission from anyone's god to run my personal life, period.
     -- Nickalis, Salina     
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    Quote is correct but the sentiment that it implies as applied to today is absurd.
     -- warren, olathe     
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    Good job Waffler.
     -- warren, olathe     
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     -- Re' Starnes, coeurdalene      
    Human nature doesn't change Mr. olathe, can you please explain why you consider that sentiment is absurd today? I'm not sure what you mean.
     -- Mike, Pleasant Hill     
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    ... indeed do we have ANY commission "from God" ?
     -- Bobble, Charlotte, VT     
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    Our interference into the internal affairs of other nations seems to create worse monsters than before. Consider today's Iraq and Libya. If Assad falls in Syria-it will become far worse than it was.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    Why do we NOT listen to our Founding Fathers and wise men?

    Time for America to get back to its Constitution.

    Semper Fi.

    B
     -- Bruski, Naples FL     
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    The basic cause of the confusion which prevails in the professing Church doctrinally is the failure to recognize the distinctiveness of Paul's message and ministry from that of the twelve. The majority of even sincere believers seemed not to have asked themselves the question: Why Paul ? They have not taken in the striking fact that after our Lord, in his so-called great commission , had sent the other apostles into " All the World " to preach the gospel to " Every Creature " ( Mark 16:5 ) and make disciples of " All Nations " ( Matthew 28:19 ) - after this, He raised up another apostle, Paul.
    Then the twelve, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, entered into a solemn agreement with this other apostle that he should got to the Gentiles while they confined their ministry to Israel ( Galatians 2:7-9) . Thus some years after the " great commission " to the eleven ( made twelve in Acts 1:15-26 ), Paul could declare: " For I speak to you Gentiles , inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles; I magnify mine office" ( Romans 11:13 ). While he confirmed the fact that Jesus was Israel's Messiah, he never proclaimed the message to all the world. The gospel of Christ according to Paul is the message of Liberty and Freedom from the law and established under grace.
     -- Ron w13, Or     
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    While he confirmed the fact that Jesus was Israel's Messiah, he never proclaimed the kingdom at hand or offered it for Israel's acceptance. To clarify my statement. The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.
     -- Ron w13, Or     
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     -- Mary - MI      
    I would suggest to Waffler that he step out and volunteer himself to be the Policeman of the world. Risk his life and shed his blood for foreign entanglements of taking place between other nation's.

    "To cherish peace and friendly intercourse with all nations having correspondent dispositions; to maintain sincere neutrality toward belligerent nations; to prefer in all cases amicable discussion and reasonable accommodation of differences to a decision of them by an appeal to arms; to exclude foreign intrigues and foreign partialities, so degrading to all countries and so baneful to free ones; to foster a spirit of independence too just to invade the rights of others, too proud to surrender our own, too liberal to indulge unworthy prejudices ourselves and too elevated not to look down upon them in others...." James Madison
    Madison's Inaugural Address - The American Presidency Project - March 4, 1809

    "The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible.... Trust in temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies... steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." (President George Washington, Farewell Address, 1797)

    "My policy has been, and will continue to be, while I have the honor to remain in the administration of the government, to be upon friendly terms with, but independent of, all the nations of the earth. To share in the broils of none. To fulfil our own engagements. To supply the wants, and be carriers for them all: Being thoroughly convinced that it is our policy and interest to do so." -- George Washington
    (1732-1799) Founding Father, 1st US President, 'Father of the Country' - Source: 1795 - letter to Gouverneur Morris, ref: Washington's Maxims, 54.

    "Honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none," (President Thomas Jefferson, Inaugural Address, 1801)

    George Washington: "The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure." (1793.)

     -- Mary - MI     
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    A BIG AMEN!

    Let us lead by example.
     -- bruski, Naples FL     
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    We Americans have a commission from nature to serve our country and world with fairness, honesty, clarity, and integrity. 
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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